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The Machine Premiere “Reversion” Video; Wave Cannon Out May 12

The Machine Wave Cannon

It’s a tale of endings, new beginnings and fascinating returns as Rotterdam, the Netherlands-based trio The Machine offer Wave Cannon on May 12 as their first release through Majestic Mountain Records. The band’s seventh album overall, the six-song/41-minute outing follows nearly five years behind 2018’s Faceshift (review here) on their own Awe Records imprint and is the journeyman outfit’s first full-length not to feature the original trio, as bassist Chris Both steps into the low end role in place of original bassist Hans Van Heemst, who left after the last record. Further to the lineup, Wave Cannon is also the last studio recording with the band for drummer Davy Boogaard, who has since left and been replaced by Klaas Dijkstra (also of BUG, Sunday Kids and others). So that’s the beginning and end, and as the trio move into what they jokingly refer to as their ‘mark iv’ incarnation with guitarist/vocalist David Eering as the remaining founding member, it’s also impossible to listen to Wave Cannon in the context of the band’s past work and not think of it as a return to form for them in terms of their re-adopting heavy psychedelia as their principal operating platform.

This appears to be something the band themselves acknowledge, leading off as they do with “Reversion” (video premiering below) and featuring “Return to Sphere (Kneiter II)” on side B in apparent answer to the jammy “Sphere (…Or Kneiter)” from 2012’s Calmer Than You Are (review here), their fourth LP and second for Elektrohasch after 2011’s Drie (review here). Those records, which followed 2009’s Solar Corona (review here) and their 2007 debut, Shadow of the Machine, formed a narrative of progression in jam-based heavy psychedelic rock such that in 2013 when The Machine offered their split with fellow Dutch upstarts Sungrazer (review here), the most palpable takeaway was the signal that a new generation was ascending in the style. 2015’s duly exclamatory Offblast! (review here) pushed deeper into the noise rock/early grunge that first seemed to make its presence felt circa 2012 and that would become more primary in the balance of their songwriting on Faceshift, complicating that narrative while making it no less true — there in fact was a new generation coming up — and Wave Cannon is in essence a realignment of their priorities, sonically speaking, embracing some of the atmospheres and methods of their earlier work.

But of course, you can’t go back in time and The Machine have been around long enough at this point that they know better than to try. And just for a disclaimer, there are no absolutes in discussion here. The urgency of push in Faceshift is not completely absent from Wave Cannon just as their previously-more-prevalent lysergic warmth wasn’t completely absent from Faceshift. But the dreamy drift of Eering‘s vocals on “Reversion” and the steady, thickened but welcoming roll that backs them, punchy bass and steadily plodding drums smoothly transitioning to the spacious and subtly tense drone-topped break in the song’s second half, is a turn. And it’s telling that once “Reversion” departs its verse/chorus progression, it doesn’t come back, fading gradually instead to silence ahead of the captured sound either of water running on some kind of chime or I’m not sure what that starts “Genau or Never,” second in the three-song salvo of six-minute tracks on side A. With the lightly spaced groove and ambient guitar of the intro, one can’t help but be reminded of a more insistent take on Colour Haze‘s She Said — not a compliment I hand out lightly, if ever — though the wash that “Genau or Never” enacts is its own no matter how the snare cuts through its instrumental course.

Near the halfway point, “Genau or Never” unveils its lead melody line in the guitar, and that takes the place of vocals with a feel that’s improvised or at least born out of improvisation, doling out a goodly portion of mounting feedback as it becomes more and more of a wash. The Machine turn to hit-hit-hit-hit as the build comes to a head, and then crash with more than a minute still to go in the track, Eering‘s guitar plucking residual notes in as the feedback sirens over the comedown, not quite harsh enough to bite, but not entirely friendly either; an edge that suits it, giving over directly to “Glider” which might be named for the fuzzy line of lead guitar that winds through the verse. Vocals are mellow and still effects-laced, but more up front than in “Reversion” and the layering in the chorus underscores just how much The Machine are themselves here without necessarily repeating their past or forgetting where they’ve been in terms of sound. “Glider” has a build of its own, the drums growing more intense post-midpoint before a stop brings back the chorus, bringing a sense of structure to “Glider” that “Reversion” began Wave Cannon by actively skirting. The song comes apart like it’s almost sad to go, and that brings “Ride on Crash Kick,” the shortest track at 3:35, and an energetic burst that ends side A.

The Machine

In what’s clearly an intentional contrast, “Ride on Crash Kick” surges forward in a way more characteristic of Offblast! or some of Faceshift‘s shove-prone fare, but is less raw-grunge on the whole — it is fuller, richer in the guitar and bass tones — and the vocals are still underwater in terms of effects, but they’re through at a sprint and end with feedback as if to pushback against the expectation that they should be all one thing or the other; a defiance of genre that’s become a part of who The Machine are and maybe executed with a bit of good humor as well, or at least a sense of fun. Side B finds “Return to Sphere (Kneiter II)” beginning softly. The longest cut at 12:38, it’s in no rush at first, but kicks in after about a minute and is in a swirling verse highlighted by a terrestrial, forward rhythm that holds it together as the guitar spaces out and the vocals find their way into a layered hook. The bass is a standout, and the sharper edges of the solo circa four and a half minutes in are well placed.

Over the next couple minutes, they move toward a crashout and by the time they’re past 7:30, the residual noise is on the fade and “Return to Sphere (Kneiter II)” devolves into choppy waveform undulations, ethereal and shimmering but still tense in rhythm, and the grace with which they bring it back to its rocking finish — shades of Elder in the noodly guitar atop the swinging drums — is not to be ignored as another sign of their whole-band maturity. It’s not a song they could’ve written when they wrote “Sphere (…Or Kneiter),” but on Wave Cannon, “Return to Sphere (Kneiter II)” is a triumph of The Machine laying claim to the totality of their aesthetic, new, old and thinking forward.

The closing title-track, at 7:11, is the only other piece on side B, and its brash intro seems to signal elbows to be thrown as it barrels through, but the verse is more patient than it at first might come across, and the chorus builds on the standout that was “Glider” as a precursor to the jam to come. More even than the consuming depth of noise that they shift into as “Wave Cannon” reaches its apex — a progression begun with the turn of drums at three minutes in that carries the song and album to their pulsating-feedback end — it’s the manner in which “Wave Cannon” ties together the various aspects of The Machine‘s work, so as to give a sense of completion to Wave Cannon; the band coming full circle without necessarily winding up where they started.

Ultimately, that is Wave Cannon‘s greatest accomplishment — that is refreshing in its take even as it speaks to where The Machine came from. As bandleader — a role he’ll have to play all the more as the only founder left — Eering puts clear attention into composition, but Wave Cannon is in no way overly restrained, and when it does let loose, as on “Reversion,” it is organic in its movement toward noise, far-out trance-induction, and so on. The Machine were kids when they started out. They’re not kids anymore, and that they’re able to harness the learning they’ve done across their years and albums up to this point and to channel it all into one collective, self-aware cannon boom is only one more example of how special a band they’ve made themselves during their time. Whatever their future brings in terms of the balance in their sound, Wave Cannon states clearly they’re able to do whatever they want and make it their own. An absolute victory for a group whose presence in Europe’s heavy underground has never felt more essential.

The video for “Reversion” premieres below, followed by a few words from Eering and more about the album.

Please enjoy:

The Machine, “Reversion” video premiere

David Eering on “Reversion”:

We’re glad to be able to share the first song from Wave Cannon. Also the first track on the album, “Reversion” sets the tone for the other songs. It has a more old-school-Machine mellow vibe, but better and with more attention to melody. Like with the other five tracks, “Reversion” just might have something to offer to both a new audience and fans of the band’s heavy psych side of earlier years. In a way, we reconnected with our spaced out past while still sustaining an evolution of the band’s sound.

I recorded a visual interpretation of the music, which (without giving away too much) focuses on the important things in life. But backwards. And backwards in reverse. I suppose you just have to watch it.

Majestic Mountain Records are pleased to announce the signing of The Machine.

A band we’ve long been fans of and are exceedingly proud to present to you at this point in their incredibly prolific career, ‘Wave Cannon,’ their 7th full length album is coming to you this May with the full Majestic treatment.

Today we’re psyched to bring you the worldwide premiere of the first single ‘Reversion’..

David (vox/guitar) tells us: “We’re happy to announce that we signed with MMR for the release of our 7th album “Wave Cannon”. It’s great to be able to work with a label that is open-minded, stands for high quality releases and supports our quirky DIY ethic. Hey ho let’s go!”

MMR is thrilled to welcome The Machine to the roster, and we’re positively stoked to get this spectacular album into your ears. Coming your way are two gorgeous colour variations in addition to an old school, solid black “audiophile” edition.

(There will also be a retail exclusive edition.)

The first single ‘Reversion,’ a captivating track built around beautifully melodic hooks and is a gritty, slightly grungy expansively spaced-out jaunt into an otherworldly realm of shimmering, sonic dream states, yet firmly anchored in the now with a fresh and powerful energy.

The Machine harness a deeply psychedelic flow of perpetual finesse, yet somehow retain captivating power while dulcetly drifting on a more grunge-gaze plain, laced through heavy, melodic harmonics and exceptionally cohesive composition.

With a new, renewed purpose and inspiration to further explore the core fabric of The Machine’s trademark heavy grooves, the band is pushing the envelope of texturally atmospheric fuzz and big riffs with a refreshed rhythm section comprised of new members Chris Both (bass) and drummer Klaas Dijkstra alongside the magnetic guitar and vocal presence of founding member David Eering.

The band bring us seven astonishingly fresh and electrifying tracks of The Machine redefined, without losing their original, heavy essence. With entrancing songcraft at its genesis, ‘Wave Cannon’ shows us THE MACHINE as we have never heard them before yet indulges our love for their original, heavy psychedelic nature.

VINYL PRE-ORDER FOR ‘WAVE CANNON’ OPENS February 17th at 19:00 CET/1pm EDT/10am PDT/6pm BST.

Official release May 12th.

“Reversion” by The Machine from their album Wave Cannon (Release date: May 05, 2023)
Album pre-order will start on Feb 17 at 19:00 CET.

[PLAY LOUD]

VIDEO CREDITS
Filmed & edited by David Eering
Produced by The Machine
Featuring Chris Both, David Eering and Klaas Dijkstra

MUSIC CREDITS
Produced, mixed & engineered by David Eering
Digital & vinyl mastering by Pieter Kloos
Written & performed by David Eering, Chris Both and Davy Boogaard

The Machine on ‘Wave Cannon’:
David Eering – guitar/vocals
Chris Both – bass
Davy Boogaard – drums

The Machine:
David Eering – guitar/vocals
Chris Both – bass
Klaas Dijkstra – drums

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One Response to “The Machine Premiere “Reversion” Video; Wave Cannon Out May 12”

  1. Jon says:

    Best news of 2023 so far!! Can’t wait for this

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